Chute Lake Elementary confusion

6:30 a.m. Update: The school is now open. After lining up over night parents were able to get into the school around 6 a.m. to sign up their kids for the 2013 - 2014 school year.

Later in the day we will have the full story from parents, school and school board.

Sunday's story:

Several dozen Mission residents waited in line for hours over the weekend, and this time it wasn't for the latest electronic gadget.

Rumours have circulated among parents in the area that Chute Lake Elementary School will not be able to accommodate all of those who wish to attend this year. There has been no official word from the School Board but many felt it important enough to spend as long as 24 hours camped out in tents and RV's, in the parking lot and outside the main doors of the school.

Photo: Adam Proskiw

Some parents, like Brian, showed up as early as 5:30 AM yet still have no guarantees that their time will have been worthwhile.

Donna was also one of the first to arrive Saturday morning. She brought her dog and her camper in the hopes she will be able to see her child registered at the school that is closest to her home.

"We're here as a community," she said. "Everyone wants to know where their kids will be going to school."

Donna and her family live less than a kilometre from Chute Lake Elementary and says that she phoned the Board but was told that there would be no definitive answers before the end of March.

Her son Billy starts kindergarten this year.

"If we don't get in," said Deborah, "I will absolutely just show up on the first day of school."

"I can see (Chute Lake Elementary) from my living room window," she added.

"This is going to be his school."

Jeff is the parent of a child who has special needs and he doesn't like the idea of his son taking an unaccompanied bus ride into town and back every day. He showed up at 8 AM.

"The people who made this policy aren't standing here in the cold," he said.

"The school board has been far too removed from this process."

CHUTE LAKE ELEMENTARY

Photo: Adam Proskiw

Some parents arrived as early as 5:30 AM in the hopes that they will stand a better chance at enrollment.

Photo: Adam Proskiw

4-year-old Braeden (left) is hoping to be one of those allowed to attend his neighborhood school.

Photo: Adam Proskiw

Parents set up a sign-up sheet organized on a first-come, first-served basis.